Sweet William- Morris (VA) 1935 Wilkinson MS
[My title, from Bronson No. 22; Wilkinson MS, no title given.
This is one of about ten versions recorded in the Brown's Cove, Virginia (Abermarle, Green Co.) area. Davis and the Virginia Folklore Society first found versions in that area in 1915, Sharp in 1918, Wilkinson three in 1935-1936, Davis two in the 1930s and George Foss one in the 1960s.
Morris and Shifflett are the prominent names of purveyors of folk music in that region.
R. Matteson 2014]
[Sweet William]- Wilkinson MSS., 1935-36, pp. 7-8(A). Sung by Nathaniel Melhorn Morris, Harriston, Va., October 9, 1935.
Wake up, wake up, you seven sleepers,
And do beware of thee.
And take care of your oldest daughter dear,
For the youngest is going long with me.
Wake up, wake up, you seven brothers bold,
And put on your armor so bright.
For it never shall be said that a daughter of mine,
Should stay with Sweet William all night.
O they rode, O they rode, they better had a rode,
And they never delayed no time.
Until she saw her seven brothers bold,
And her father walking so nigh.
"Git you down, git you down, git you down, my pretty Polly,
And hold my steed for awhile.
Until I fight your seven brothers bold,
And your father walking so nigh.
She-held, O she held, she better had a held,
And she never delayed no time.
Until she saw her seven brothers bold,
And her father she loved so dear.
6. Stop your hand, stop your hand, stop your hand, she cried,
Stop your hand, stop your hand, stop your hand for awhile,
For many other sweetheart I could have had,
But a father I'll never have no more.
7. You can choose for to go, you can choose for to stay,
You can choose for to go or to stay.
I'll go, I'll go, Sweet William you know,
For you've left me without any guide.
8. He mounted her on his milk white steed,
Himself on a (dapple, triple) grey,
And buckled his pistols down by his side,
And away he rode bleeding away.
9. O they rode, they rode, they better had a rode,
And they never delayed no time,
Until he came to his own mother's stile,
And a mother she was to him.
11. O mother, mother, make my bed,
And make it soft and wide.
And lay my lady down by my side,
As I may rest for awhile.
12. Sweet William he died about midnight,
Sweet Polly she died before day,
And the old woman died for the loss of her son,
And there were eleven lives lost.